# indenture

/ˌɪnˈdɛntʃɝ/ (US) · /ˌɪndˈɛntʃɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/indenture
Updated: 2026-10-14

## Definition

a formal written contract that requires one person to work for another for a fixed period of time. People in the past signed them to learn a trade or pay for travel to a new country.

For teachers: a formal legal contract binding one party to work for another for a specified period, historically used for apprenticeship or debt repayment. Often executed as a deed with matching copies for each party.

## Examples

- She signs an indenture to train as a baker for four years.
- The museum holds an indenture from 1820 that bound a young apprentice to a shipbuilder for seven years.
- Scholars studying colonial labour systems often cite the surviving indenture as proof that legal freedom could coexist with harsh, tightly controlled working conditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.